Dr. Hassan Al-Qasabi, Professor of Hadith at Al-Azhar University, stated that the decline in moral values within society is mainly due to the absence of true role models within families. Children, he said, do not learn morals by hearing them but by witnessing them in action.
He explained that righteous upbringing begins with sincerity — being honest with God, oneself, and others — noting that values are not taught; they are lived. The family, he said, is the first school of education, and a child is like soft clay that parents mold through example.
Dr. Al-Qasabi stressed that the righteousness of parents ensures divine protection for their children, citing the Qur’anic verse:
“And let those fear [Allah] who, if they left behind weak offspring, would be afraid for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.”
He added that the piety of the father in the story of the two orphans in Surat Al-Kahf was the reason their wealth was preserved, showing that righteous parents bring blessings and protection to their offspring.
He also emphasized the vital role of teachers in shaping values, as students often love the subject through their love for its teacher. Good character, he said, is rooted in sincerity, which is the foundation of all ethics.
Dr. Al-Qasabi concluded by urging parents to pray for their children, saying:
“O Allah, protect them with Your care, guide them to righteousness, fill their hearts with faith, and grant them beneficial knowledge and divine blessings.”
He concluded that family, teachers, and community must unite to raise a generation of virtuous individuals, for righteous homes build righteous nations.
